Chapter 9: A New Discovery
The next few days were filled with cautious experiments. Maxim and Daniel returned to the woods after school each day, always taking a different path to avoid being seen. Maxim's abilities were growing, but they were still unpredictable. Sometimes he could lift a small rock or move a branch without touching it; other times, no matter how much he concentrated, nothing happened.
Daniel, always hopeful, took it all in stride. He scribbled notes in a small journal, tracking every success and failure. "We're making progress," he said one afternoon, watching as Maxim raised his hand, causing a swirl of leaves to lift in the breeze. "It's all about finding the right balance."
Maxim wasn't sure what that balance was. The power inside him was growing, but it was still wild, untamed. He could feel it pulsing beneath the surface, like a river waiting to burst through a dam. But controlling it? That was the tricky part.
As the days went on, Maxim began to notice other things too. It wasn't just about lifting rocks or moving the air. He could feel something else—an awareness of the world around him that hadn't been there before. Sometimes, when he closed his eyes, he could sense the energy in the trees, in the earth beneath his feet. It was like he had tapped into a deeper connection with the natural world.
One afternoon, as they sat on the edge of the clearing, Daniel leaned back against a tree, flipping through the pages of his journal. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "I've been thinking. What if your powers aren't just about moving things? What if they're connected to the elements or something?"
Maxim frowned, considering this. "You mean like... controlling nature?"
"Sort of," Daniel said, scribbling something in his journal. "I mean, think about it. The wind, the trees, the rocks... you've already done stuff with them. Maybe there's more to it than we realize."
Maxim wasn't sure, but the idea intrigued him. If his powers were connected to the elements, what did that mean? And how could he learn to control something so vast and powerful?
---
Later that week, Maxim decided to test Daniel's theory. He had always felt a connection to the wind, but now he wondered if there was more to it. After school, they returned to the woods, and Maxim stood in the clearing, his eyes closed, focusing on the sensations around him.
At first, there was nothing. The air was still, the forest quiet. But as Maxim concentrated, he began to feel something—an energy, faint but unmistakable, humming just beneath the surface. Slowly, he raised his hand, feeling the wind stir around him.
It was a gentle breeze at first, barely noticeable. But as Maxim focused, the wind picked up, swirling around the clearing like an invisible force. Daniel watched in awe as the leaves lifted into the air, dancing in the wind.
Maxim opened his eyes, a grin spreading across his face. "I did it," he said softly.
Daniel laughed, jumping to his feet. "That was incredible! You're like, the master of the wind or something!"
Maxim wasn't sure about that, but for the first time, he felt like he was truly beginning to understand his powers. The connection to the elements was real, and it was growing stronger every day.
But as exhilarating as it was, there was also a sense of unease. If his powers were connected to the elements, what else could they do? And what would happen if he lost control?
---
A few days later, Maxim and Daniel were back in the woods, testing the limits of Maxim's abilities. Daniel had brought a few items—a metal coin, a small glass bottle, and an old leather pouch—to see if Maxim could affect different materials.
They started with the coin. Maxim held it in his hand, concentrating on the weight of it, the coolness of the metal against his skin. He could feel the faint hum of energy, but no matter how hard he tried, the coin wouldn't budge.
"Maybe it's too heavy," Daniel suggested, though he didn't sound convinced. "Or maybe metal doesn't work the same way as rocks or leaves."
Maxim wasn't sure. He put the coin down and picked up the glass bottle. It was small and delicate, and as he held it, he could feel the energy around it, faint but present. He closed his eyes, focusing on that energy, trying to coax it into movement.
At first, nothing happened. The bottle remained still in his hand, and Maxim felt a flicker of frustration. But then, just as he was about to give up, he felt a shift. The bottle trembled, vibrating softly in his palm.
Daniel's eyes widened. "You're doing it!"
Maxim's heart raced as he concentrated harder. The bottle lifted, just a few inches off his hand, but then, with a sharp crack, it shattered, glass shards scattering across the ground.
Maxim jerked back, startled. "I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine," Daniel said quickly, brushing away the pieces. "That was awesome! I mean, okay, it broke, but you actually moved it. That's progress!"
Maxim wasn't sure if shattering a bottle was really progress, but Daniel's enthusiasm was infectious. They cleaned up the glass, and Daniel handed him the leather pouch.
"Let's try this," he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Maxim took the pouch, feeling the rough texture of the leather beneath his fingers. He wasn't sure what to expect, but as he concentrated, he could feel the same energy, the same connection. Slowly, the pouch began to lift.
It was a small movement, barely noticeable at first, but then it rose higher, floating in the air in front of him. Maxim grinned, feeling a surge of triumph.
But then, without warning, the pouch dropped, hitting the ground with a soft thud.
Maxim frowned, confused. "I don't get it. Why does it work sometimes and not others?"
Daniel shrugged, picking up the pouch. "Maybe it's like... practice? The more you do it, the stronger you get?"
Maxim nodded, though he wasn't convinced. His powers were still so unpredictable, and he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to them—something he wasn't seeing yet.
But one thing was certain: whatever this power was, it was growing. And Maxim was determined to figure out how to control it.